Is tap water safe in South Hero?

EPA SDWIS shows no active health-based violation in this profile's reporting window. That is not the same as proving every contaminant is absent, and federal data can lag state and utility records.

How hard is the water in South Hero, VT?

Nearby USGS observations produce an estimate of 12.4 ppm (0.7 grains per gallon), classified as soft. This is not a tap measurement.

Do I need a water softener in ZIP code 05486?

There is no high-hardness trigger in this profile. Confirm conditions with an at-home hardness test before purchasing equipment.

City water profile

South Hero water quality

Compare local ZIP estimates, evidence quality, associated public systems, and compliance history for South Hero, Vermont.

Median indexed hardness

12PPM

One indexed ZIP

Range 12.4–12.4 PPM

State comparison: 86 PPM below
State hardness rank: #86 of 87
Matched utilities: 1
Active health records: 0

City summary

What the indexed records say

South Hero has 1 published ZIP profile across Grand Isle County. The indexed median is 12 PPM, compared with 98 PPM across Vermont.

Among the 87 Vermontcities with an indexed median, South Hero ranks #86from highest to lowest. Across all 93 state ZIP profiles, available estimates run from 10.5to 176 PPM.

Because only one ZIP is represented, the city median and range are the same local estimate. It should not be read as multiple independent samples across the community.

Hardness distribution

How local ZIP estimates compare

Soft1 ZIP

Moderately hard0 ZIPs

Hard0 ZIPs

Very hard0 ZIPs

1 of 1 ZIP profiles have a hardness estimate. Bars count ZIP profiles, not households or laboratory samples.

Evidence quality

Distance, dates, and confidence

Median nearest distance: 15.6 miles
Profiles with evidence: 1/1

Confidence labels

High: 0Moderate: 1Low: 0

Observation window: Jan 5, 2016 to May 31, 2023.

ZIP directory

Water reports in South Hero

Open a ZIP for site-level provenance and measurements.

ZIP code

05486

Soft

12.4 PPM

Nearest site: 15.6 mi
Confidence: Moderate

View full ZIP evidence →

Public water systems

Utilities associated with this city

South Hero Fire District 4

PWSID VT0020080

Surface water

System population served: 760
Last reported: Jun 30, 2026

The system names this served city; Census place overlap links the city to this ZCTA.

Compliance history

What EPA records show

No active health-based violation appears among the associated systems in the represented EPA reporting quarter. This does not mean every contaminant was tested at every tap.

Record	System	Period	Status
Revised Total Coliform Rule	VT0020080	Sep 1, 2022	Resolved
Revised Total Coliform Rule	VT0020080	Mar 1, 2021	Resolved
Chlorine	VT0020080	Jan 1, 2021	Resolved

Practical next steps

Move from index to evidence

1. Open your ZIP. Check distance, dates, confidence, and the associated utility.
2. Read the current CCR. Confirm source water, detections, limits, ranges, and notices.
3. Test the tap when needed. Confirm health concerns or treatment sizing with the right method.

Continue comparing

Other Vermont communities

Alburgh

Grand Isle County

13 PPM median

Burlington

Chittenden County

12 PPM median

South Burlington

Chittenden County

12 PPM median

Winooski

Chittenden County

12 PPM median

Shelburne

Chittenden County

12 PPM median

Cambridge

Lamoille County

13 PPM median

Search all 87 Vermont cities →

Questions people ask

About water in South Hero

Is the water hard?

The indexed city median is 12 PPM. Open the ZIP report to verify the distance and confidence behind that estimate.

Is the tap water safe?

Compliance history is utility-wide and cannot guarantee conditions at every tap. Check current notices and test when address-specific evidence is needed.

Do I need treatment?

Choose treatment only after confirming the problem at the property. A softener targets hardness; contaminant treatment requires a matching, verified performance claim.